WASHINGTON - United States Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick met today with the Singapore Minister for Trade, George Yeo, to review the significant progress made in the negotiations on the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and move it into the final stages.

"The United States and Singapore are making excellent progress in our negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement," said Zoellick. "This will be a concrete sign of America's economic and political commitment to Singapore, Southeast Asia, and free trade."

Zoellick and Yeo scheduled the seventh round for the week of March 11 and the eighth round for the week of April 22. Both negotiating teams will be working hard in the coming months to achieve a successful conclusion of the negotiations, which will also have a beneficial impact for the 10 countries of the ASEAN region (Association of South East Asian Nations). Ambassador Zoellick and Minister Yeo also considered other ways to enhance the U.S.-ASEAN commercial relationship prior to Ambassador Zoellick's upcoming trip to Singapore, Thailand, and Asia next month.